Pam Ayres among this month’s good books for kids

Do you remember a favourite book from your childhood? How much pleasure it would give you if your children shared the joy that book gave you and so you tell them about it. However, be prepared! It’s not always the case that they say “Oh thank you, Mum!” (or Dad) and rush off to read it. Indeed they may refuse to have anything to do with it.

In a recent conversation with the principal of a local school this very subject arose for he had a favourite book in his childhood and he could not persuade his own children to read it.

That is why this month, and along with some of the new and wonderful books available, I am including the principal’s favourite, Over Sea, Under Stone. Published many years ago, it retains the ability to keep young readers keenly following the adventure and so, possibly, it might persuade a young reader to give it a try. I hope so.

A good story remains just that however many years have passed and I hope today’s children won’t set their faces against reading excellent stories just because their parents enjoyed them. They would miss such a lot.

First published in 1965, Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper remains a very readable adventure story for children aged 9-12. Part of the award-winning The Dark Is Rising sequence, it has all the ingredients for success – children on a beach holiday with the enigmatic Great Uncle Merry who is prone to wandering off, an old house with hidden rooms, a mysterious white yacht and a housekeeper who may not be all she seems.

The children discover an ancient map apparently showing where King Arthur’s holy grail is buried and begin following the clues to find the ancient relic. However, what began as an adventure quickly turns out to be a dangerous race against some very nasty characters who will stop at nothing to find the grail for they believe it may have the power to resurrect age-old forces of evil. Thrilling and satisfyingly long, Over Sea, Under Stone will keep young readers absorbed today as it did those who read it fifty years ago.

Published by Puffin at £7.99 (PB)

There are some particularly good picture books about. Amongst them is Pam Ayres’ I Am Oliver the Otter, a treat for children of 6+. The tale from our ‘wild and wonderful’ riverbanks is combined with simple facts about otters told in a way which will appeal to reader and listener both of whom will be entranced by Nicola O’Byrne’s beautiful watery illustrations.

The gentle combination of Ms Ayres’ rhymes, the facts about otter families and the illustrations make I Am Oliver the Otter an attractive joy of a book to share with the younger members of the family.

Published by Macmillan at £12.99 (HB).

Squishy is invisible. There are many parents who would think that made him the ideal pet cat, and he’s pretty good at helping his owner, Ava, too. So when the family are packing for a camping holiday in Squishy McFluff’s Camping Adventure and Ava forgets the tent, good old invisible Squishy is there to help build a den.

Meanwhile Idris and his dog, Farida, are competing to see who can build the best den, but something large and hairy arrives and ends the contest. Who is it that gets rid of the guzzling grizzly bear, well, of course, it’s Squishy? Colourful and funny, three year olds will love it.

Published by Faber at £7.99 (PB).

Albie the teddy bear arrived in his new home wearing nothing but his fur. Now most teddy bears and their owners don’t mind that, but Albie was an exception. He wants clothes and he wants them now! He goes through a whole heap of outfits from those for a fairy queen (no good), pirate, prince, cowboy – he tries them all and none of them suit this picky little bear.

Finally, and having been laughed at by weasels and crows, he gives in, all the clothes are given away and Albie finds the breeze on his knees ‘felt exceedingly good’. The Bear Who Had Nothing To Wear by Jeanne Willisis full of colour and giggles for young listeners.

Published by Scallywag Press at £12.99 (HB).

An anniversary edition of Benji Davies’ The Storm Whale published this year celebrates ten years since the charming story of Noi, who saved a whale by putting it in his bath, delighted small children everywhere.

Winner of the inaugural Oscar’s Book in 2014 (awarded to the best picture book of the year for young children) and once suggested as a Christmas present for children in this column, it is a wonderful mix of watery illustrations showing young Noi’s efforts to save the whale.

Look out for a sequel in October 2023 when The Great Storm Whale will be published. It has a hard act to follow.

Published by Simon and Schuster at £7.99 (PB)

Finally for children aged 7 and over who think mudlarking sounds as though it would be fun there’s Katya Balen’s The Thames and Tide Club – The Secret City in which Clem and her friends have formed a club to do just that. Their chum Oswald owns a museum and looks at all the objects the club finds, but on one particular day, Zara unfortunately forgets to show him a piece of tangled metal she has discovered.

This lapse of memory causes a whole load of trouble as more and more strange things happen - pavements cracking and Tower Bridge ‘waving like a dandelion in the wind’. To get things back to normal the members of the club are told they must dive beneath the waters of the Thames into the extraordinary Undercity of London.

There they find talking fish and a spectacular palace inhabited by a porpoise in a pink dress looking for her lost crown. How all is put right makes this a good story for children aged 7 and over (don’t forget that would-be mudlarkers need a permit as well as wellington boots!)

Published by Bloomsbury at £6.99 (PB).